Each morning when I wake up, I wake up inspired just thinking about my clients and members of the Tone and Strengthen family. I love what I do. I get to change people’s lives and set them on a healthy path. All the while working with some of the best people I have known. These members of my fitness classes always put a smile on my face. I am grateful that I could continue teaching the classes virtually when the pandemic hit. I just couldn’t bear the thought of not spending time with these beautiful people. The clients who log on to my virtual classes and personal training make me excited to be there to teach the class or lead the training session in front of the camera. My clients literally pump me up for my work. My clients are a constant reminder of why I’m passionate about my mission to move people towards a healthier version of themselves.  

Today I am going to throw the spotlight on our long-term family member Jenn Stoltz. Jenn is a nurturing and dedicated mother of two boys, Shane-19 and Reed-16. She lives in Holland, PA with her husband, Craig. She’s currently working part time from home for a law firm doing accounts receivable.  

Question 1  Give us a background of your wellness journey? How did you get started? What inspired you? 

I have always been an active person, starting with playing sports my entire childhood. In my early twenties I started running and joining fitness classes in the evenings after work or playing tennis, anything to keep myself in shape. When I was younger, I was inspired to work out to stay in shape, but still was able to eat whatever I wanted because I always worked it off.

Question 2  What are your current fitness and wellness goals? 

My fitness and wellness goals have changed a lot since I was in my twenties! I have continued to join fitness classes and run/walk/bike throughout all of my adulthood, but now it’s not so easy to stay in shape just by exercising. Of course, a main goal is to always be active and strong and keep my clothes fitting, but last year I seemed to come to a plateau where all the exercise in the world couldn’t help me lose or keep off some weight that I had gained. A few months ago, I started a new diet to eat better and learn how to use food for fuel and get the proper nutrition I need to sustain a healthy lifestyle. I have dropped about 15lbs in the last ten weeks and hope to lose a few more to reach my goal. And then I hope to sustain the healthy eating habits that I added to my already existing workout regimen. 

Question 3  What challenges do you face in keeping up with your fitness goals?

I’m fortunate to be someone who loves working out so it’s not challenging for me to carve out time for exercise. I feel like it’s something I crave, even when some days it’s just a short walk. Just moving a little each day does wonders for the body and mind, especially during the pandemic this past year. Learning to eat healthier is more of a struggle since I’m not much of a cook and have a limited vegetarian diet, but I’ve learned to make a lot of nutritious and also delicious meals the past few months so I’m getting into a new routine that’s becoming easier to follow every day.  

Question 4  How did you find Coach Aesha and started working with her? 

I found Coach Aesha when she took over teaching the barre classes at the Northampton Rec center. I had been taking classes there for many years and really enjoyed Aesha’s class when she took over. 

Question 5  Tell us about your experience of working with Coach Aesha? 

I love working with Aesha because she’s a pro with every type of workout she teaches and can always explain why certain exercises are done and how our bodies work and can benefit from what we’re doing. She always shows alternatives to moves, understanding that not everyone is at the same level with every exercise, and we can all modify it to what works best for us. 

Question 6  How has Coach Aesha’s training helped you with your fitness journey?

Coach Aesha has helped me to be accountable to myself in my fitness journey. I have taken several of her classes over the years including Barre, Buns and Guns, and Weekend Warrior. I love having set times for classes to keep me on a schedule, but also having access to Aesha’s recorded classes has given me chances to try other workouts or make up a class when I have other commitments that conflict with class time. Having Aesha continue to do so many virtual classes during the pandemic was really a life saver for me during that time. It helped my physical and mental wellness, and just added a little bit of normalcy back into my routine. I plan to continue with classes virtually and then hopefully in person in the not-too-distant future!